CarSharing Industry Forms Association to Drive Best Practices

Founding members are signatories to the Carsharing Industry Code of Ethics and Standards of Practices, which articulates the purpose, definition, and goals of carsharing.

Jan 27, 2011

In order to maximize the environmental and social impact of the carsharing industry, 17 carsharing organizations from around the world have launched the CarSharing Association (CSA).

City CarShare, a Bay Area, Calif., nonprofit carsharing organization, is a founding member and will serve on executive committee.

While the concept of car sharing has been around for half a century, it is only within the past decade that the service has become popular in cities around the globe. The formal launch of CSA establishes an association dedicated to promoting the environmental and social benefits available through carsharing. Founding members are signatories to the Carsharing Industry Code of Ethics and Standards of Practices, which articulates the purpose, definition, and goals of carsharing.

CSA members share goals that include reducing the number of cars on the road, relieving congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and augmenting transportation options at a lower cost than owning a car. By adhering to the Industry’s Code of Ethics, members prioritize community benefit over profits.

Members agree to work with each other to focus on environmental impact and social benefits, education, research, and ethical practices.

The CSA member organizations span Australia to Nova Scotia, the United States to Brazil. Together, they represent more than 100,000 active members across the globe. The CSA includes innovators of carsharing in North America, some of whom have been in operation since 1994. To learn more, visit carsharingassociation.com.